'Only allow lap dancing clubs in heart of Cheltenham town centre' - borough council licensing chiefs

Sexual entertainment venues will not be allowed in residential areas of Cheltenham if councillors get their way - but a town centre ban of the clubs is unlikely.

Cheltenham Borough Council’s influential licensing committee met today in the Municipal Offices and it was asked to give the authority a steer on whether lap dancing clubs should be banned in the town.

A number of moves to do just that were defeated but committee members did eventually agree that sexual entertainment venue licences should not be granted to any clubs outside the town centre.

Meanwhile, they also agreed any applications to open such a club in the town centre should be considered on a case by case basis by the licensing committee and that no limit should be placed on the total number of the clubs allowed.

A public consultation came back with overwhelming support for a total ban of the clubs in the town.

Councillor Anne Regan (C, Warden Hill) advocated setting a zero limit on the clubs for each of the town’s 20 wards.

She said: “I don’t think we should have these sexual entertainment venues.

“We are a town of culture, a town of beauty and a town of art. It is not necessary.

“We are elected members and we should listen to what the people have said.”

Councillor Andrew McKinlay (LD, Up Hatherley), cabinet member for development and safety, pitched the idea for the zero limit for residential areas and case by case determination in the town centre to the committee.

He questioned whether a “blanket ban” would even be legally possible.

“It makes much more sense to restrict potential sexual entertainment venues to the town centre area where you would expect other night time entertainment,” he said.

Captain Steve Smith from the Cheltenham branch of The Salvation Army believes things could still change.

He said: “I heard almost unanimously the entire committee saying they are against these venues and yet they also seem to be saying they don’t want to say no to them.

“I think there is still room for the parameters to change.”

Gloucestershire police was asked by the borough council for its opinion on any safety issues surrounding the granting of sexual entertainment licences.

The committee was read the following statement from Jaine Simner, Gloucestershire Constabulary’s licensing manager.

“I don’t believe we or any other force have statistics that suggest that SEVs are responsible for or increase the likelihood of sexual offences.

“It is my opinion that SEVs if well run like any other licensed premises cause us very little problem and are not known for crime and disorder.”

The issue of setting a limit on the number of sexual entertainment licences granted in Cheltenham will be discussed by the borough council’s cabinet on Tuesday September 16.

The recommendation from the licensing committee will be taken into account.